The role of the Confucius Institutes in the dissemination of the Chinese language in the Russian Federation

Van To PhD in History Postgraduate student of Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia 117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 6 1194595483@qq.com Other publications by this author

Introduction

Since the beginning of Deng Xiaoping's reform and openness policy in 1978, the People's Republic of China has been able to increase its international influence in key sectors such as economics and politics.

Economy. Since the beginning of the Deng Xiaoping project, which implied the combination of planned and market elements of the development of the national economy, the PRC economy has entered a phase of permanent growth: The GDP of the People's Republic of China in 1978 was 149.54 billion US dollars (hereinafter USD), however, over a ten-year period, the total value of China's gross domestic product increased to 312.35 billion USD, and in 2021 it was estimated at 17.82 trillion USD ^[1].

It is important to note that in parallel with the growth of China's own economic indicators, it was building a model of economic dependence of states on China. As an example, it is worth noting the fact that the People's Republic of China is the main trading partner for more than 120 countries of the world, among which one can distinguish both the developed countries of the "first world" represented by the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea, as well as the European Union and many others, and developing economies, among which one can distinguish The Russian Federation, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, etc. ^[2].

Thus, the People's Republic of China, having gained economic sovereignty over the past 45 years, has been able to put more than half of the existing states of the planet in a position dependent on itself, using its economic power, literally forcing countries to conduct business relations with the PRC.

Politics. It is difficult to overestimate the political influence of the People's Republic of China in the modern international arena: the People's Republic of China is the "locomotive" of the restructuring of the current system of international relations, based on the primacy of the states of the collective West, led by the United States of America. This process of transition of supremacy on the world stage from the United States to the People's Republic of China was called "transit of power", named after the theory of international relations of the same name "theory of transit of power" (Eng. Power transition theory). In modern realities, the previously outlined process is based on the parity of the "forces" of China and the United States in key areas: GDP, expenditures on research and development (R&D), industrial and infrastructure development, etc. ^[3].

However, one of the main elements of modern state influence in the international arena is "soft power", which consists in indirect pressure on states through the attractiveness of language, culture, values declared by the government of the state and diplomacy. Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world at the time of 2019: About 1.3 billion people worldwide are native Chinese speakers ^[4].

In order to spread the Chinese language around the world, the People's Republic of China has begun to create a foreign network of Confucius Institutes.

The object of this study is the "soft power" of the PRC. The subject of the study is the role of Confucius Institutes in the dissemination of the Chinese language in the Russian Federation. In order to study the subject of the study, it is necessary to solve the following tasks:

1.                 To determine the role of Confucius Institutes in the context of the implementation of the "soft power" of the PRC;

2.                 To study the activities of Confucius Institutes in the Russian Federation.

This study is based on the theory of neoliberalism, which implies a significant influence of internal factors, economic relations, international law and international institutions on international relations. This theory of international relations considers relations between states as a "non-zero sum game", i.e. one player's win does not mean another's loss.

Confucius Institutes as an element of the PRC's "Soft Power" in the context of the "transit of power"

The history of "soft power" in China dates back to the VII-VI centuries BC. As one of the leading experts in the field of "soft power" of the PRC Tarabarko K.A. designates: "Ancient Chinese thinkers Lao Dan (Lao Tzu), Confucius (Kung Tzu), Sun Bin (Sun Tzu) developed "soft" methods of influencing an opponent, which were used in China for more than two thousand years in the field of military practice, government and building relations with neighboring nations" ^[5]. However, the highest interest in "soft power" among the leadership of the People's Republic of China appeared at the turn of the millennium, the reason for which can be considered the growth of China's influence on the world stage after the start of the implementation of Deng Xiaoping's reforms ^[6]. 

It is important to note that the term "Soft power" in Chinese is very multifaceted, and includes various translations:

1. - –Ruan shili" (soft real/real force);

2. ? – - "Ruan liliang" (soft physical strength);

3. ? – - "Ruan quanli" (soft power, soft law) ^[7].

According to the previously mentioned expert Tarabarko K.A.: "Chinese scientists, based on the ideological content of the theory of J. The following components of the theory of soft power are distinguished: political power, cultural power, the power of diplomacy and the power of society. At the same time, the cultural component is the core in this system." It is important to understand that the approach to "soft power" in China is significantly different from the "classic" version of J. Although it is based on his principles: in his work "Soft power", Nye notes: "if its culture and ideology are attractive, others will more willingly follow ... soft power resources – cultural attraction, ideology, and international institutions" (rus. If his (state's) culture and ideology are attractive, others are more likely to follow... soft power resources - cultural attraction, ideology and international institutions) ^[8]. As you can see, Chinese experts in "soft power" have modernized Nye's approach, they have leveled ideology and introduced diplomacy and society into the tools of "soft power".

In order to realize their own vision of "soft power" based on the attractiveness and prospects of the Chinese language, a whole network of Confucius Institutes was created. As N.V. Morozova notes in her work "The Spread of the Chinese language as a source of "soft Power" of the PRC": "in his speech at the annual conference of the British Confucius Institutes, Xi Jinping drew attention to the fact that language is the most suitable key to understanding the country, and Confucius Institutes are a platform for understanding China in many ways all over the world. Earlier, the chairman also stressed that the charm of the country's culture and the attractive power of the people are mainly expressed and transmitted through language" ^[9].

The Confucius Institutes, established by the State Chancellery for the Dissemination of the Chinese Language Abroad, are institutions for the study of the Chinese language and culture (sok. Hanban, Hanban, a.s.a.) Currently, the work of the Confucius Institutes is supported by the Center for International Language Exchanges and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and the Foundation for International Teaching of the Chinese Language.

The mission of the Confucius Institutes:

1.                      Preservation and development of moral and cultural values of human civilization;

2.                      Continuous development of fundamental and applied science as the basis of quality education;

3.                      Internationalization of education, science and culture, integration into the global educational, scientific and cultural environment;

4.                      Continuous development and implementation of new information technologies in education, science and in all spheres of life of the world community;

The basis of the activities of Confucius Institutes are:

1.                      Teaching Chinese language and Chinese culture;

2. Professional training;

3.                      Conducting tests and exams (BCT, HSK, YCT) and organizing preparation for them;

4. Development and implementation of educational programs in the Chinese language;

5.                      Conducting specialized courses to prepare for the use of the Chinese language in business, tourism, healthcare, as well as to prepare for training in the territory of the People's Republic of China;

6. Development of educational and methodological manuals on the Chinese language and the basics of Chinese culture;

7.                      Adaptation of Chinese films, etc. ^[10].

The first Confucius Institute was opened in November 2004 in Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea. As of 2019, there are 535 Confucius Institutes in the world. Of course, the priority area for the implementation of its "soft power" is the Asia-Pacific region, where Chinese is the main language of business cooperation. However, in the context of countries outside the Asia—Pacific region, the Chinese diaspora plays an important role in popularizing the Chinese language, as noted in her work "The language policy of the People's Republic of China at the present stage (2001 - 2013)" Morozova N.V. ^[11]

On September 27, 2014, the opening ceremony of the first World Confucius Institutes Day was held in Beijing. The event was attended by Liu Yandong, a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Vice Premier of the State Council, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the headquarters of the Confucius Institutes, who read out a congratulatory letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang, and also made a speech. The opening ceremony was led by Yuan Guiren, Minister of Education and Deputy Chairman of the Confucius Institute Headquarters Council. The opening ceremony was attended by more than 200 people, including executive directors and board members of the Confucius Institute headquarters, ambassadors of 43 countries and institutions in China, presidents of 30 universities, as well as Chinese and foreign students and citizens. More than 400 presidents, deans of universities and institutions from more than 100 countries and regions sent congratulatory letters. On that day, about 1,200 Confucius Institutes and Classes in 123 countries and regions of the world simultaneously held more than 3,000 events for the study of Chinese language and culture: open lectures on teaching Chinese, exhibitions of educational materials on the Chinese language, lectures on Chinese culture, calligraphy contests, poetry readings, Chinese film screenings, cultural performances by students, presenting a colorful celebration of Chinese culture to residents of different countries ^[12].

Since the signing of the agreement on the establishment of the first Confucius Institute in Uzbekistan in 2004, the joint efforts of the Chinese and foreign sides in 123 countries and regions have created more than 500 Confucius Institutes and 713 Confucius classes in primary and secondary schools, in which millions of students are registered ^[13]. Over the past 10 years, Confucius Institutes have developed rapidly and have become a high-profile brand and an important platform for the dissemination of Chinese language and culture, promoting cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between China and foreign countries.

Thus, it can be concluded that the leadership of the People's Republic of China pays close attention to the spread of the Chinese language outside the PRC, accordingly, the development of the main tool for expanding Chinese influence in the world through "soft power" - Confucius Institutes becomes strategically important. Moreover, the expansion of the tools of Chinese "soft power" plays an important role in the previously designated process of "transit of power" due to the presence of an extensive network of US "soft power" tools around the world, which include the English language, modern Western cinema, Western values and way of life ^[14].

Activities of Confucius Institutes in the Russian Federation

At the moment, the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China are key political and ideological allies. Both powers advocate the restructuring of the modern system of international relations based on the primacy of the states of the collective West and the obvious exploitation of developing economies. However, it is important to understand that the role of the "locomotive" in the transformation of the current system of the world order is played by the People's Republic of China due to the presence of obvious competitiveness with the modern hegemon represented by the United States of America in the economic sphere and the field of R&D ^[15], therefore, cooperation between the PRC and the Russian Federation is not limited to economics, politics and high technologies, one of the most important roles It is occupied by cultural and ideological cooperation. 

There are 19 Institutes and 4 Schools of Confucius in Russia, located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Blagoveshchensk, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Irkutsk, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Ryazan, Tomsk, Ulan-Ude, Yaroslavl, and other cities.

According to data from open sources in the Russian Federation, about 17.6 thousand people are native Chinese speakers, at the same time, more than 59 thousand people speak the previously designated language fluently. It is also important to note that due to the popularization of the Chinese language in the Russian Federation, more than 22 thousand full-time students in the Russian Federation study Chinese at key universities in the country, among which one of the key places is occupied by the Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia ^[16].

In many ways, the Confucius Institutes, carrying out their direct task on the territory of the Russian Federation – the popularization of the Chinese language and culture in the country, continue the Sino-Soviet, and later Sino-Russian cultural and ideological exchange that began during the existence of the Soviet Union.

Summing up all the above, we can conclude that the Confucius Institutes in the Russian Federation primarily serve as an instrument of cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation, and not as a "mouthpiece" of Chinese "soft power" due to the absence of hostility between the two states, the presence of common goals and interests in the international arena. It is important to understand that efforts to strengthen cooperation between the countries are not being undertaken unilaterally, about 32 thousand Chinese citizens study on the territory of the Russian Federation, the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing operates on the territory of the People's Republic of China, therefore cultural and ideological cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Russian Federation is of a mutual nature, consisting in strengthening ties between peoples two powers on a long-term basis.